Irritation bodies

ABSTRACT

It is proposed to introduce an irritation body ( 1 ) into a crowd of persons, which is applied in a sequence of highly-accelerated rolling movements in random directions on the ground by means of integrated impulse drive mechanisms ( 2 ). The body ( 1 ) comprises a cylindrical shape, or, preferably a spherical shape. In addition, the irritation body ( 1 ) comprises control electronics ( 3 ) for igniting the impulse drive mechanism ( 2 ), along with a current supply unit ( 4 ). The current supply unit ( 4 ) can be supplied with electrical energy over a charging module ( 7 ) leading to the outside by means of a programming and/or charging device ( 5 ), directly before application of the body ( 1 ). An onsite programming of the control electronic ( 3 ) is also possible by means of the program module ( 6 ) and the programming and/or charging device ( 5 ).

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority on German patent application DE 102 59 913.0, filed Dec. 20, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conflict situations, law enforcement forces and soldiers are increasingly confronted with scenarios in which they are threatened by persons who are users of force. Often, such persons, in order to avoid attack, retreat into crowds or other gatherings, which makes targeted operations of effective materials against these persons difficult. In particular, traps and capturing nets such as are known from DE 19952431 C2 or DE 3546387 A1 are unsuitable.

The use of water cannons, rubber bullets or tear gas is similarly not always successful. Thus, a water cannon must be brought relatively close to the crowd and is thereby itself put into danger. Rubber bullets present the problem that their effect differs depending on the distance to the target and the type of hit. The danger of deadly injuries or irreparable damage is not capable of being ruled out. Tear gas is difficult to control in its effect and dependent on the weather.

An irritation body is known from DE 19944486 A1 which has a cylindrical shape and sections for containing an effective charge running substantially parallel to the central axis of the container. The effect that is achieved can be a flash or bang. Similarly constructed are so-called fog hand grenades, such as published, for example, in DE 19548436 C1.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that serves to disperse a crowd. The system should thereby typically be applicable from a distance of typically on hundred meters against a crowd of people. In order to be able to apply the system when non-combatants or accompanying persons find themselves in the crowd, continuing physical damage is ruled out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the above objects, the present invention provides an irritation body having a circumference, comprising: a plurality of integrated impulse drive mechanisms distributed along the circumference of the irritation body; a current supply unit operably connected to the integrated impulse drive mechanisms; and control electronics, operably connected to the current supply unit and the integrated impulse drive mechanisms to set the irritation body in an accelerated rolling movement in a plurality of directions when triggered.

According to other embodiments the irritation body has a substantially spherical or substantially cylindrical shape.

According to a still further embodiment the control electronics further comprises means for programming a temporal ignition sequence of the impulse drives. It is understood that the means for programming can be a conventional microprocessor and memory device. The impulse drive mechanisms are preferably integrated in the body in a substantially regular distribution, or, in another embodiment a substantially random distribution. The current supply unit preferably comprises a battery or capacitative energy storage device.

According to a still further embodiment, a charging and/or programming module is provided leading to the outside of the body and operatively connected to the current supply unit to supply electrical energy to current supply unit and/or program instructions to the control electronics. A program and/or charging device is also provided operably connectable to the charging module to supply the irritation body with program instructions and/or electrical energy.

Preferably, on-site programming of the control electronic is executable with the program module and the program and/or charging device.

The irritation body according to the present invention also prefereably comprises a brake system. In another embodiment the body, comprises not round or unround surfaces.

In a still further embodiment, the irritation body comprises one or more modules of soft material, applied to a surface of the irritation body.

The invention is based on the idea that a body is introduced into a crowd of persons which is introduced on the ground in a series of highly-accelerated rolling movements in random directions by means of integrated impulse drive mechanisms. This results in persons being as a rule only struck on feet and/or legs. Impacts to the head are ruled out. Accordingly, the mass, the size and the impulse of the sphere is selected so that by the impact on feet or shins only light but painful blows occur. The body itself comprises a cylindrical shape, preferably a bullet-like shape.

The temporal ignition sequence of the drive mechanisms can be programmed. Thereby the quality of the ground and the spatial extension of the crowd of persons can be taken into account.

The system can be thrown by hand over short distances or applied over longer distances with a mechanical or pyrotechnical throwing system. In the latter case, the body is combined with a brake system, which so reduces the falling speed of the sphere so that irreversible injuries to persons are avoided upon striking of persons.

The body can according to its rolling behavior be adapted to particular application scenarios. By shaping in a polygon or resilient material, particularly with spherical bodies, the rolling ability of the body can be reduced and thereby the movement path shortened.

The invention will be more closely explained by means of the illustrative embodiments and drawings. Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention are described in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments, which follows, when considered together with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, there is shown:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a body according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a representation of a possible movement path of a body according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a supplemental module for the body to minimize rolling.

Detailed Description of Illustrative Embodiments

The present invention will now be elucidated with reference to several preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings in which like parts are described with like reference numberals.

FIG. 1 shows a sphere-like body 1 (irritation body) in cross section. This comprises “N” impulse drive mechanisms 2, for example 4, that are electronically connected to control electronics 3. The impulse drive mechanisms 2 are integrated into body 1 in a regular or random distribution. It is to be noted that the direction of the impulse results largely from components tangential to the surface of the sphere. It is desirable that the distribution of the impulse drive mechanisms 2 in body 1 lead to a spherically symmetric mass moment of inertia. In addition to the control electronics 3, a current supply unit 4 is also found in body 1. This can be embodied as a battery, or, preferably, a capacitative energy storage device.

The energy storer 4 can be supplied with electrical energy by means of a programming and/or charging device 5 over a loading module 7 leading to the outside, directly before application of the body 1. This process can be carried out galvanically or in a non-contact manner, for example, inductively.

A programming of the control electronics 3 in location is also possible. The program data are transmitted from the program and/or charging device 5 over the program module 6, also galvanically or in a non-contact manner.

The activation of body 1 can take place by means of a cog that is hurled directly before throwing in a manual application. This cog starts, as a rule, a mechanical clockwork or the like, that galvanically connects the current supply unit 4 with the control electronic 3 after the expiry of a safety catch release time. After charging of the ignition circuit, the ignition of the impulse drive mechanisms 2 starts. The temporal sequence of ignition of the drive mechanisms 2 leads to an accelerated movement in random directions Z1-Zn (FIG. 2).

By application through a throwing system (not shown) the cog or pin is held down on the throwing unit during release of the body 1. In order to reduce the speed of impact, the body 1 can be supplemented with a brake system.

In order to reduce the rolling ability of the body 1, modules 10 with not round, particularly unround, surfaces 11 (FIG. 3) and/or modules of soft material can be stuck on. It is to be understood that a soft material can lead to a hopping or springing of the sphere 1 whereby it no longer moves only along the ground.

Furthermore, secondary effects can be incorporated such as noises or colored smoke, etc.

The body 1 can also be built cylindrically. In this case, the rolling behavior is limited, but still sufficient. The impulse drive mechanisms 2 are in this guise only distributed along the cylindrical circumference portion, whereby they can be present over the entire cylindrical length. A positive effect on the movement behavior of the body 1 is effected in this case by an elastic, or as the case may be flexible outer material. In the case of a cylindrical body, the structure as seen in FIG. 1 would be equally applicable, if considered to be a cross section of the cylinder. In addition, the module 10 with surface 11 could be considered the cross-section of a half-cylindrical element. 

1. An irritation body having a circumference, comprising: a plurality of integrated impulse drive mechanisms distributed along the circumference of the irritation body; a current supply unit operably connected to the integrated impulse drive mechanisms; control electronics, operably connected to the current supply unit and the integrated impulse drive mechanisms to set the irritation body in an accelerated rolling movement in a plurality of directions when triggered.
 2. Irritation body according to claim 1, wherein the irritation body has a substantially spherical shape.
 3. Irritation body according to claim 1, wherein the irritation body has a substantially cylindrical shape.
 4. Irritation body according to claim 1, wherein said control electronics further comprises means for programming a temporal ignition sequence of the impulse drives.
 5. Irritation body according to claim 4, wherein the impulse drive mechanisms are integrated in the body in a substantially regular distribution.
 6. Irritation body according to claim 4, wherein the impulse drive mechanisms are integrated in the body in a substantially random distribution.
 7. Irritation body according to claim 1, wherein the current supply unit comprises a battery.
 8. Irritation body according to claim 1, wherein the current supply unit comprises a capacitative energy storage device.
 9. Irritation body according to claim 7, further comprising: a charging and/or programming module leading to the outside of the body and operatively connected to the current supply unit to supply electrical energy to current supply unit and/or program instructions to the control electronics; and a program and/or charging device operably connectable to the charging module to supply the irritation body with program instructions and/or electrical energy.
 10. Irritation body according to claim 8, further comprising: a charging and/or programming module leading to the outside of the body and operatively connected to the current supply unit to supply electrical energy to current supply unit and/or program instructions to the control electronics; and a program and/or charging device operably connectable to the charging module to supply the irritation body with program instructions and/or electrical energy.
 11. Irritation body according to claim 8, wherein on-site programming of the control electronics is effectable with the program module and the program and/or charging device.
 12. Irritation body according to claim 9, wherein on-site programming of the control electronics is effectable with the program module and the program and/or charging device.
 13. Irritation body according to claim 1, further comprising a brake system.
 14. Irritation body according to claim 1, further comprising not round or unround surfaces.
 15. Irritation body according to claim 1, further comprising one or more modules of soft material, applied to a surface of the irritation body. 